The label is a big part of your brand and far too important to be left to chance. So, how can you be sure that your label manufacturer truly understands you, the Indian market, your industry, and your product?
We believe that any label supplier should provide value to your complete supply chain. If you have experienced any of the issues below, it may be time for a change.
Impeccably designed labels become useless if they fall off or are damaged before the products reach the consumer. Your customers should be able to read the label for informational purposes long after purchase.
Example: Labels for shampoo bottles that don't endure water or labels for frozen goods that fall off when exposed to temperatures below zero aren't very functional – and your clients will agree.
That's why it's vital to keep in mind the impact your products will go through before design characteristics are chosen for your specific label. Will they withstand the conditions during application, storage, transportation, and sales? In many cases, a label can be exposed to rather harsh environmental fluctuations such as cold, heat, moisture, dirt, or solvents during its life cycle.
An experienced label supplier should be able to foresee and explain the label's quality and durability needs according to the packaging to which it will be attached.
Example: Cardboard and PET bottles have different material properties that must be considered when choosing adhesives, label materials and printing inks.
Read more: How much should your labels be able to endure?
Long delivery times often imply that you won't get your product out to your vendor or customer on time. Therefore, it is essential that your labels are delivered on time to the right place. If this is currently a problem, you should consider your label supplier’s logistics solutions.
More importantly – the bigger the business, the more critical it is that your subcontractors can deliver as agreed, even during difficult times. This requires that your subcontractors have a contingency plan so that crises do not affect your supply.
Your label manufacturer should have an excellent backup plan covering the need for both material supply and production capacity. Different production sites can help and supply each other to secure deliveries. A supplier with several label factories will quickly come to each other's aid if one production site is forced to stop production. Skanem India is available on multiple sites and can cooperate if something should occur.
Read more: Is your label supplier rigged for another crisis?
Stricter environmental requirements – nationally and internationally – affect the development of packaging and packaging solutions. Your label supplier should know these requirements in detail and offer innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for your product.
A national supplier will naturally be best acquainted with the regulations in its country and will also be able to consider changes in legislation not yet entered into force.
| Complying with rules and regulations is a basic necessity and a main priority here at Skanem India. We are mandated in terms of quality and infrastructure, which is needed to keep a high standard. The following manufacturing sites have the necessary certifications for supplying labels for food and beverage production:
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Moreover, smarter choices throughout the supply chain can have a significant effect. Take, for example, L'Oréal – they switched to using a thinner and lighter label material, reducing their carbon footprint by 7%.
Remember! If you miss out on improvements and innovations, you quickly miss out on updates that consumers are concerned about. Solutions that affect function, sustainability, cost, or design can all be sales arguments towards the end-user.
Read more: How monomaterials in packaging increase recycling and circular economy
It is wise to choose a manufacturer who can provide a complete package consisting of the necessary machines, labels, ribbons, and substrates. At Skanem India, you don't have to worry about how and where to find a specific machine that will print onto a particular type of label material. It saves you the time and hassle of matching the correct manufacturers for each job and enables a better overview of your expenses.
What you pay for your labels is not just about the price per label but also how the entire portfolio is structured.
Does your label manufacturer use more colours than necessary to create the design? Are you ordering more formats than you need? Is your inventory optimized? What does your ordering pattern actually look like?
If you do not have the answers to these questions yourself, your label supplier should have them – and help you find ways to cut costs without cutting corners.
After all, these are all factors that ultimately raise the total cost of your labelling purchase. Reducing the complexity of the design process at an early stage can make your label portfolio more cost-effective. Skanem India provides one-time and restocking supplies, which can optimize costs with longer visibility.
If you suspect your label costs are too high, you should let your supplier do a complete analysis and optimization of the label portfolio. If your current provider doesn't have the resources for this, it could be financially wise to ask a different supplier to perform the same task.
Read more: Labels: Providing wings of hope for start-ups with digital printing
Your product's design and function can significantly impact how you build your brand. Likewise, the functionality of the labels can and should be a strategic part of your marketing efforts. Choose a supplier who can offer and advise you on the solution that makes your product more functional.
Here are a few examples of how labels can elevate the customer experience:
Being at the forefront of innovation is quite different from simply jumping on the latest trend. Therefore, your label supplier should be at the forefront of both experience and development. That way, you can be one of the first to use new solutions as soon as they hit the market.
Read more: 5 things to consider before designing your new labels
Succeeding in packaging and labelling is more complex than you might think. Therefore, it is crucial that your provider also acts as a dedicated advisor.
You need a personal product expert with experience in your particular industry. Such a person will be acquainted with your specific needs and is available to solve your challenges, also the ones which emerge over time. You may face problems in terms of compliance, sustainability goals, quality, or product campaigns.
Here at Skanem India, across all our sites, it's not just about delivering what you ordered but also about ensuring you're getting the best solution for your specific product and market. Moreover, it's about ensuring that the labels will continue to grow your sales and function for your brand. For any assistance, our customer service is here at your disposal and will respond within a maximum of 12 hours.
Time for a new label supplier? Get in touch here or download our checklist below for more labelling and packaging insights.